Children's Department News - May 2013

Story time and Lap Sit

Preschool story times: Tuesday & Friday: 10:30 a.m.; Thursdays at 4:00 p.m.

Story times are for children ages 2 and older and their families or caregivers.

Location: Children's Activity Room. No Registration

April 30, May 2, & 3: Two new stories: I Dare You Not to Yawn and The Black Rabbit.

May 7, 9 & 10: Celebrate Mother's Day with "mom" stories: A Mother for Choco, One Beautiful Baby, and The Poky Little Puppy and the Patchwork Blanket. We will make a special craft for our mothers.

May 14, 16, & 17: New and old stories about cats, hamsters, and dogs: Fuddles, Harriet, and Bark, George.

May 21, 23 & 24: We will listen to stories about farm animals, including Kiss the Cow and The New Baby Calf.

May 28, 30 & 31: Counting stories: Soup for One, 10 Hungry Rabbits, and Over on the Farm.

Lap Sit every Monday at 10:30 and 11:15 a.m. in the children's activity room, first floor.

This program is for babies, toddlers, and their parents or caregivers. Make new friends, listen to simple stories, and learn finger plays and songs. There will be no program on May 27.

***Special Programs for Children and their Families or Caregivers***

A "Bear-y" Merry May!

Saturday, May 4th: 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Walnut & Elm Rooms

     Mark your calendars for a program for children hosted by the library's Teen Advisory Board. Children of all ages will be encouraged to bring their favorite teddy bears or other stuffed animals with them to this special event. Celebrate favorite bears in children's literature! Families will enjoy crafts, games, face painting, and stories.

     They will also have the opportunity to meet a special costumed character. This is an "open house" activity. Come to the meeting rooms at any time during the event and spend as much time as you like. Free. No registration. Get ready for fun!

Lego Club

Saturday, May 11: Lego Club Time: 1 to 2 p.m. Place: Walnut & Elm Rooms

     Children in kindergarten through grade 6 will have the opportunity to build with the library's collection of Lego blocks. Children who are ages 5 to 8 must be accompanied by an adult. No fee or registration. Come and build and have fun!

WLHS Robotics Team Interactive Presentation

Saturday, May 18: 2 to 4 p.m.

Walnut & Elm Rooms

Due to a robotics competition, this event will be rescheduled.  The new date will be posted as soon as we receive the information.

Coming Soon: Summer Reading Program

     The summer reading program this year is titled "Dig Into Reading!" It is for children who are age 2 through those who have just completed grade 6. They will receive reading record forms on which they will list the books they read or the time they spend reading during the summer.    Parents of pre-school children will record the titles of books that they read to their children during the summer. Registration for the summer reading club will begin on Friday, May 24. We will also have an "end of summer" prize drawing for children who reach their summer reading goals.

     There will be special events on Wednesdays and many Saturdays during June and July.

Please check our website after May 1, for more information about this exciting and popular program.

     There will be teen and adult reading clubs this summer, too.     

*** The library will be closed on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27. ***

Reading to the Dogs & Cat

Reading to the Cat and Dogs! and Reading to the Dogs!

     At the West Lafayette Public Library, we are very fortunate to have members of two different therapy animal organizations bring their registered therapy animals to the library about 9 or 10 times a year. Children reserve a 15 minute time period for reading to the therapy animals. They may check out books at the library to read or bring favorite books from home. The reading dates are announced on the children's web page, in the children's department newsletter, and on posters in the children's department. At the end of the reading session, families with children who are not yet reading are welcome to visit the animals and talk to their partners.  When people first hear about reading to therapy animals, their usual response is "Why would anyone want to read to a dog?" or "Do the dogs really listen?" The members of the Caring Paws organizations believe that dogs have a calming effect on most children and have helped children improve their read-a-loud skills.

     Therapy animals have been coming to the WLPL for 7 years.  The children's department is very happy to sponsor this popular program and appreciates greatly the people who volunteer time to bring their much-loved pets to the library.

About Caring Paws

     Caring Paws is a non-profit, volunteer organization based in the Greater Lafayette area.  Caring Paws members visit nursing homes, retirement centers, schools, hospitals, and libraries seeking trained and registered therapy animals to interact with their patients, residents, and students.

     All Caring Paws volunteer teams have been evaluated by a major national animal therapy organization, Pet Partners (formerly Delta Society).  With a registered therapy animal, a facility can be assured of a visit from a pet and partner who will provide a safe and enjoyable experience.

     The teams that are insured by Pet Partners present the "Reading to the Cat and Dogs!" programs. Some of the animals who visit the library are the cat, Grizzley, and the dogs Dory, Murdock, Neville, and Zeph.

     For more information, please contact the Caring Paws web site: www.caring-paws.org or the Pet Partners site: www.petpartners.org

     All therapy animals are current on vaccinations and insured by the groups.

Therapy Dogs International (TDI)

     Therapy Dogs International (TDI) was formed in 1976 in New Jersey so that dogs could be certified, insured and registered as volunteer Therapy Dogs. All registered dogs have been tested for therapy dog work by certified TDI evaluators and are current on vaccinations. While many dogs provide companionship in the home, not all dogs are qualified or have the temperament suited to be a therapy dog.

      TDI Chapter 267 is a Greater Lafayette Chapter of Therapy Dogs International. Our local volunteer teams visit schools, mental health facilities, nursing homes, camps for children and are wonderful tail waggin' tutors at library reading programs. For more information about our organization, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

      At the WLPL, our program is publicized as "Reading to the Dogs."  Some of the dogs who visit the library are Daisy, Frankie, Java, Jill, & Sugar.  TDI members will be presenting a program on dog safety in June as part of the summer reading club series of events.

Ongoing Children's Programs

Learn more about "Reading to the Dogs" - The next Reading to the Dogs or Reading to the Cat & Dogs programs will be:  Saturday, April 27: 2 to 3 p.m.; Saturday, June 1:  2 to 3 p.m.; Saturday, July 27:  2 to 3 p.m. 

Lapsit for babies & toddlers who are too young to sit quietly for the regular story time and their parents or other caregivers.  Mondays at 10:30 am and 11:15 am in the Children's Program Room. Lead by Volunteer Amanda Barche Lindberg from Ivy Tech. This is a good opportunity for families to make new friends and have fun at the library.

Story time is held each Tuesday at 10:30 am, Thursday at 4:00 pm, and Friday at 10:30 am in the Children's Program Room. Come and listen to Miss Linda read stories and help children create a craft. Parents and caregivers are expected to attend with their children. Programs are designed for 2 to 5 year olds, but older children are welcome to attend. 

Many other special programs are held throughout the year.